Expansion channel



Aug. 24, 1965 Filed April 17, 1965 J. w. LEE 3,202,077

EXPANS I ON CHANNEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 om Wu INVENTOR (/OA/ M4 LEEArrow/5V5 Aug. 24, 1965 J, w, LEE 3,202,077

EXPANSION CHANNEL Filed April 17, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 -1 E 10* A 35202 jg L3'5 mg;

INVENTOR da/v M [5 Arm/Mfrs Aug. 24, 1965 J. w. LEE

EXPANSION CHANNEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 1'7, 1963 45 Big-Q (/ON WZ ZE BY 3 ATTO/PA/E vs United States Patent 3,2tl2,077 EXPANSHON CHANNELJon W. Lee, Campbell, Calih, assignor to Owens-Corning FiberglasCorporation, a corporation of Belaware Filed Apr. 17, E63, Sen No.273,766

6 Claims. (Cl. 98-4ll) This invention relates to an expansion channelmember designed to cooperate with air distribution duct assemblies aspart of a grid work for the support of subceiling elements at a levelbeneath the main ceiling of an enclosed space. An expansion memberembodying the invention presents to the eye a configuration quitesimilar to that of the air distribution member of the duct assembly,supports some parts of the sub-ceiling elements, or lighting fixturesand the like and accommodates for expansion and contraction of theentire sub-ceiling grid work including conventional T-bars.

In co-pending application of Lee and White, Serial No. 231,897 filedOctober 22, 1962, there is disclosed an air distribution duct assemblycomprising an elongated diffuser bar and a continuous air supply duct,the two being in communication with each other throughout their lengths,and the diffuser bar functioning both to discharge air from the supplyduct into the space being treated and to support the elements of adropped or subceiling. In such a construction the air supply duct islocated above the diffuser bar and hidden by the subceiling elements.Such air distribution duct assemblies may extend from end to end of anenclosed space and there may be more than one of such duct assemblies inthe space. For example, in a large space such as an engineering orgeneral oilice, measuring, say, 200 by 100 feet in size, the ductassemblies may extend the full length of the room, be spaced ten ortwenty feet from each other so that the entire 200 by 100 foot ceilingwould include seome fiveto ten of the duct assemblies extending parallelto each other. The ceiling grid work would also include cooperating,transversely extending T-bars for the support oflthe various elementsfrom which the sub-ceiling is fabricated, such as acoustical tile, andother surface elements or functional devices such as lighting fixtures.When there is a substantial differential between the temperature ofambient air in the plenum space above the sub-ceiling and thetemperature of the conditionedair delivered through the air distributionduct assemblies and, more particularly, in the areas of the plenumchamber where lihgting fixtures and the like are located, considerableexpansion and contraction of the metallic T-bars or of the airdistribution duct assemblies may take place under varying conditions.

The problem caused by expansion and contraction of these variousmetallic elements has been considered and attempts to solve it have beenmet by the use of slip joints between contiguous lengths of the airdistribution ductassemblies or between lengths of the T-bars and also atthe junctions etween the T-bars and the air distribution ductassemblies. Slip joints in these locations are less than satisfactorybecause the shapes of the two elements in telescoping relationship maynot remain constant and the joints may not slip freely, leaving openingsor causing crumpling in some severe circumstances.

It isthe principal object of the present invention to provide anexpansion member for use in a grid work in the support of a sub-ceiling,the grid work comprising continuous lengths of T-bars and of airdistribution duct assemblies by which conditioned air is delivered orreturned from the spacebeneath the sub-ceiling.

This and more specific objects and advantages of the instant inventionwill be better understood from the EZhZfiT? Patented Aug. 24, 1955 "me aspecification which follows and from the drawings in which:

PEG. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of an enclosed spaceprovided with a sub-ceiling incorporating sub-ceiling elements supportedby grid work comprising air distribution duct assemblies, T-bars andexpansion members embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross section of an air distributionduct assembly of the type disclosed in the mentioned Lee and Whiteapplication, and which is illustrated as being employed in the grid workshown in FIG. 1; this assembly not constituting part of the instantinvention but being included for purposes of understanding; the crosssection being shown on a substantially enlarged scale with respectto thescale of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of an expansion memberembodying the invention, the view being similar to FIG. 2 andillustrating how the expansion member functions for the support ofsub-ceiling elements and for connection with transversely extending T-bars of the sub-ceiling support grid;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary View in perspective illustrating how a rightangle junction of two runs of an expansion member embodying theinvention are connected to each other and further illustrating a mannerof connection of T-bars to such expansion member;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective, and on a greatly reducedscale, illustrating the junction between an air distribution ductassembly as illustrated in FIG. 2 and an expansion member as illustratedin FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical'sectional view, taken along the line6--6 of FIG. 5 and being shown on an enlarged scale.

An enclosed space such as that fragmentarily illustrated in FIG. 1 in "amodern building usually isdefined by a floor, generally indicated by thereference number It walls 11 and a false or sub-ceiling generallyindicated in FIG. 1 by the reference number 12. The sub-ceiling i2 isusually dropped down from the main ceiling of the room which is also theunderside of the floor of the next higher level or may be the mainceiling of the building, as for example, the roof structure of a onestory building. The upper main ceiling is not shown in FIG. 1 exceptfragmentarily by the portion indicated by the reference number 13 andoften is of reinforced concrete or the like thus constituting a mainstructural element ofsthe building.

The space between the underside of the structural ceiling 13 and thesub-ceiling 12 is referred to as a plenum space and is utilized inmodern buildings for conduits for lighting equipment, power lines,telephone and other communication systems, heating ducts, air and thelike.

In the illustration of FIG. 1, two air distribution duct assemblies,generally indicated by the reference numbers 14- are shown asbeingsuspended by hangerwires, 15 from conditioning ducts fragmentaryindications of the upper structural floor 13 l and as extendingtransversely acrosstthe space undercon:

(FIG. 2) consists of a diffuser bar, generally indicatedby the referencenumber 16, and comprising a pair of spaced side bars 17, an air duct '18comprising a resilient sheet material jacket 19 and an insulating layer2%} laminated therewith and located inten'orly of the jacket 19. Theside bars 17 form an elongated conduit, open at the top and bottom forthe passage of air vertically therethrought sideration. Each of the airdistribution duct assemblies i 3 nal edges of the jacket 19 forretaining the duct 18 in place on the diffuser bar 16. At the lower endsof the side bars 17, there are outwardly turned flanges 24 which areutilized for the support of edges of sub-ceiling elements. such asinsulating ceiling tiles, of which one is indicated by the referencenumber 25. The diffuser bar 16 is connected to transversely extending,inverted T-bars 26 (see also FIG. 1) by bent assembly clips 27. The openbottom of the air passageway between the bars 17 may be partiallyobstructed by a diverter 23.

The construction thus far described with respect to FIG. 2 is thatdisclosed and claimed in the above referenced Lee and White applicationand does not, in itself, constitute a part of the instant invention. Thecooperation between the air distribution duct assemblies 14 and theT-bars 26 is also fully discussed in the Lee and White application.

As earlier mentioned, a sub-ceiling assembly such as that illustrated inFIG 1, may also comprise lighting fixtures such as the row of lightingfixtures indicated by the reference number 2 and these lighting fixtures29, as well as the sub-ceiling elements 25, are supported by the flanges24 on the air distribution duct assemblies 14 and similar flanges 30 onthe T-bars 2d. As can be seen by reference to FIG. 2 the flanges 24 ofthe diffuser bar 16 of the air distribution duct assemblies 14 and theflanges 30 of the T-bars 26 are on the same horizontal level so that theceiling elements and the lighting fixtures 29 may be supported by theseflanges 24 and 30 all in the same plane to present a flush, apparentlycontinuous surface on the sub-ceiling 12.

As earlier mentioned, because of the differential between thetemperature of the conditioned air which is supplied through the ductassemblies 14 and the usually much higher temperature within the plenumspace itself above the sub-ceiling 12, especially in the vicinity of thelighting fixtures '29, the duct assemblies 14, the T-bars 26.0r othertransversely extending T-bars such as those indicated by the referencenumber 31 in FIG 1, elongate and shorten during changing conditions andto diflerent degrees. In a large room such as that illustrated in FIG.1, Where the ceiling grid work comprises all of the elements illustratedtherein, it is particularly necessary that means be provided foraccommodating for this expansion and contraction without distorting anyof the ceiling support elements, the sub-ceiling elements or thelighting fixtures.

Two expansion members 32 and 33 are shown in FIG. 1 and illustrated ingreater detail and on an enlarged scale inFIGS. 36. Each of theexpansion members 32 or 33 consists of a pair of vertically extendingside members 34 at the lower end of which there is located an outwardlydirected horizontal flange 35. Each of the side members 34 also has onits outer side a pair of vertically spaced slots 36 which are separateda distance from each other such that they will snugly receive the upperand lower edges of a groove engaging end portion 37 of an assembly clip27. The slots 36 are spaced from each other and spaced relative to thelevel of the flanges the same as similar slots 38 in the side bars 17 ofthe dififuser bar 16. This identity of vertical spacing between the sidemembers 34 of the expansion members 32 and 33 and the side bars 17 ofthe diffuser bars 16 results in all of their flanges 24 and 35 and alsothe flanges 30 of the T-bars 26 lying in the same horizontal plane.

The two side members 34 of the expansion members 32 and 33'are connectedto each other by an elongated vertically extending bifurcated member orwishbone 39. The lower edges of each arm of the wishbone 39 haveintegral ribs 40 which are slidingly inserted into slots 41 formed atthe inner sides of the side members 34.

The arms of the bifurcated member 39 are preferably flexible; At-itsupper ends,'the Wishbone 39 has a web 42 which extends throughout itslength and through members 34, each pair being designated 34a, 34b, 34c.

and 34d in FIG. 4. intersecting ones of the pairs of short side members3411, b, c, and d, for example those indicated by the reference numbers34b and 34c in FIG. 4 are connected to each other by angle clips 45 attheir mitered corners. Each arm of the angle clip is mounted in thevertically spaced outer slots 36 .of a respective one of the sidemembers 34band 34c in lengths of wishbones indicated by the referencenumbers 3%, b, c, and d in FIG. 4 are engaged in the inner slots 41 ofthe side members in the pairs 34a, b, c, and d. As shown in FIG. 4,wishbones or bifurcated members 39a and 3% are longitudinally spacedfrom one another. Similarly, bifurcated members 3% and 39c are alsolongitudinally spaced from one another. The longitudinal spacing betweenlongitudinally aligned bifurcated members of the cross member 44provides room for expansion between the various elements. making up thecross member 44. The cross member 44 is connected to the long lengthsor" the expansions members 32 and 33 by fiat connecting plates 46 whichare inserted in the vertically spaced pair of the slots 36.

FIGS. 5 and 6. Because the levels of the various slots and flanges suchas the flanges 24 on the diffusers bars 16 and 35 on the expansionmembers 32 and 33 must be the same, it is necessary to accommodate. theduct 18 by cutting away a portion of the .wishbone 39 and web 42 of theexpansion member, for example the expansion member 32, with which itintersects. As

illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, an arcuate notch 47. is cutv in-the upperportion of the wishbone 39 and web 42 and the duct 18 has an exteriorjacket. or tubular junction plate 43 snapped around its exterior at theintersection.

What I claim is:

1. In a sub-ceiling support grid work having inverted T bar elements,diffuser elements of air distribution duct assemblies and hangers forsuspending said grid work at a certain level below the main ceiling of aroom and.

in-which said T bar elements and air distribution diffuser elements haveoppositely directed horizontal flanges all lying at the same level forsupporting sub-ceiling elements, an expansion channel for cooperationwith said grid work elements comprising, in combination a pair oflaterally spaced, vertically extending elongated side 7 members anoutwardly directed flange on the lower portion of each side member, anelongated bifurcated member having downwardly extending spaced arms anda top center web, means on said web for suspending said bifurcatedmember from the main ceiling and cooperating engageable means on saidside members and the lower parts of said arms for supporting said sidemembers.

2. A sub-ceiling support grid work, comprising (1) diffuser elements ofair distribution duct assemblies, each i of said diffuser elementsconsisting of a pair of elo n gated, laterally spaced, side bars formingan elongated conduit, open at the bottom for the passage of airtherethrough, an outwardly directed sub-ceiling support flange on eachof said side bars at its lower end, aligned,

vertically spaced means forming an elongated assembly clip groove on theouter side of each of said sidebars for the reception and retention ofassemblyclips, (2)

inverted T elements, sub-ceiling support flangeson said V series ofholes'43 for en inverted T elements similar in size and apperance tosaid flanges on said diffuser elements (3) an expansion elementcomprising (a) a pair of elongated, laterally spaced side membersforming an elongated conduit open at the bottom, (b) an outwardlydirected sub-ceiling support flange on each of said side members similarin size and appearance to said flanges on said T elements and saiddiffuser elements, (c) aligned, vertically spaced means forming anelongated groove on the outer side of each of said side members of asize for the reception and retention of assembly clips, (d) an elongatedbifurcated member consisting of two downwardly extending, spaced legsand a central web defining a closed top for the space between said legs,(e) cooperating means on said side members and on :said legs of saidbifurcated member for supporting said side members in a lateral spacingcorresponding to the lateral spacing of said side bars of said airdistribution diffuser elements, (4) means for supporting said inverted Telements, said diffuser elements and said expansion element beneath themain ceiling of a room with their support flanges at the same level, (5)and assembly clips having at least one groove engaging portion and a Tbar engaging portion extending outwardly from said groove engagingportion, said clips engageable in the grooves of said side bars and saidside members for retaining said T elements, said dilfuser elements andsaid expansion element in a reticulated open grid work with differentelements in perpendicular relationship.

3. An expansion channel according to claim 1 and means for supportingthe T bar elements of the subceiling support grid work, said meanscomprising, a plurality of assembly clips having at least one grooveengaging portion and a T bar engaging portion extending outwardly fromsaid groove engaging portion, each of said laterally spaced elongatedside members delining, on its outer side, a pair of vertically spacedopposed assembly clip slots for receiving said groove engaging portionof said assembly clips.

4. A sub-ceiling support grid work, according to claim 2, includingintersection means for connecting two intersecting expansion elements,said intersection means comprising four pairs of short lengths of saidside members, a first pair of said side members being longitudinallyaligned with and spaced from a second pair of said side members, a thirdpair of said side members being longitudinally aligned with and spacedfrom a fourth pair of said side members, said third and fourth pair ofsaid side members abutting and being perpendicularly positioned withrespect to said first and said second pairs of said side members, anangle clip having perpendicularly extending arms mounted in suchelongated grooves of abutting ones of said side members, a bifurcatedmember mounted in each of said pairs of side members, wherebylongitudinal aligned ones of said bifurcated members definedtherebetween an expansion space, and a connecting plate mounted in suchelongated groove of each of said members extending beyond the free endof said side member, whereby said connector plate may be inserted in anouter elongated groove of an adjoining expansion element of such gridwork.

5. An expansion channel cross member, comprising, in combination, fourpairs of elongated, laterally spaced side members, each of said sidemembers having an outwardly directed sub-ceiling support flange at itsouter lower edge, each of said side members defining a pair oflongitudinally extending, aligned and vertically spaced grooves on itsouter side, a first pair of side members being longitudinally alignedwith and spaced from a second pair of said side members, a third pair ofsaid side members being longitudinally aligned with and spaced from afourth pair of said side members, an angle clip having perpendicularlyextending arms mounted in such vertically spaced grooves of abuttingones of said side members, an elongated bifurcated member, consisting oftwo downwardly depending spaced legs and a central wall extendingbetween the top of said legs, mounted in each of said pairs of said sidemembers, whereby longitudinally aligned ones of said bifurcated membersdefined therebetween an expansion space, cooperating means on said sidemembers and on said legs of said bifurcated members for supporting saidside members in a predetermined lateral spacing, and means on each ofsaid pairs of said side members for connecting said pairs of sidemembers to an adjoining element of a grid work.

6. In a sub-ceiling support grid work having inverted T bar elements,diffuser elements of air distribution duct assemblies and hangers forsuspending said grid work at a certain level below the main ceiling of aroom and in which said T bar elements and air distribution diffuserelements have oppositely directed horizontal flanges all lying at thesame level for supporting sub-ceiling elements, an expansion channel forcooperation with said grid work elements comprising in combination apair of laterally spaced, vertically extending elongated side members,an outwardly directed flange on the lower portion of each side member,an elongated fiexure member having downwardly extending spaced arms anda top center web, means on said web for suspending said flexure memberfrom the main ceiling and cooperating engageable means on said sidemembers and the lower parts of said arms for supporting said sidemembers.

No references cited.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

6. IN A SUB-CEILING SUPPORT GRID WORK HAVING INVERTED T BAR ELEMENT,DIFFUSER ELEMENTS OF AIR DISTRIBUTION DUCT ASSEMBLIES AND HANGERS FORSUSPENDING SAID GRID WORK AT A CERTAIN LEVEL BEELOW THE MAIN CEILING OFA ROOM AND IN WHICH SAID T BAR ELEMENTS AND AIR DISTRIBUTION DIFFUSERELEMENTS HAVE OPPOSITELY DIRECTEDD HORIZONTAL FLANGES AL LYING AT THESAME LEVEL FOR SUPPORTING SUB-CEILING ELEMENTS, AN EXPANSION CHANNEL FORCOOPERATION WITH SAID GRID WORK ELEMENTS COMPRISING IN COMBINATON A PAIROF LATERALLY SPACED, VERTICALLY EXTENDING ELONGATED SIDE MEMBERS, ANOUTWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGE ON THE LOWER PORTION OF EACH SIDE MEMBER, ANELONGATE FLEXURE MEMBER HAVING DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SPACED ARMS AND ATOP CENTER WEB, MEANS ON SAID WEB FOR SUSPENDING SAID FLEXURE MEMBERFROM THE MAIN CEILING AND COOPERATING ENGAGEABLE MEANS ON SAID SIDEMEMBERS AND THE LOWER PARTS OF SAID ARMS FOR SUPPORTING SAID SIDEMEMBERS.